Eight Brumbies have been named in the Wallaroos squad to take on Canada in the final Australian Mining Pacific Four series clash at Suncorp Stadium on Friday (4:55pm AEST), with wing Biola Dawa making her first international appearance of the season.
Martha Fua, Katalina Amosa, Siokapesi Palu, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Faitala Moleka, Ashley Fernandez and Tia Hinds will also represent the Brumbies in the squad.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has made five changes to the team in total to the one that defeated the USA for the first time on Australian soil in Canberra last week.
Dawa made her Test debut against Fijiana last July and will play the fourth match of her career in gold.
It’s also a special comeback for Talakai, who last played a Test match for the Wallaroos in 2023 after an ACL injury kept her sidelined for 12 months.
Charlotte Caslick will start at inside centre in a first for the rugby sevens convert while Fua, Amosa and Bridie O’Gorman form a new-look front row.
Queenslander Bree-Anna Browne and Eva Karpani move to the bench alongside the experienced Emily Chancellor and Trilleen Pomare.
Last week’s debutant Ruby Anderson also retains her spot in the reserves after a special first Test appearance in the nation’s capital.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said: "We had a pleasing win against the USA and with a short turnaround now we turn our attention to finishing the Pacific Four series well.
"The past month has been about growth and we continue to give players opportunities through the last match now with the World Cup coming up.
"Adiana Talakai and Biola Dawa return for the first time this year and that’s exciting for them while Martha Fua, Tia Hinds and Ash Fernandez also get another opportunity this week.
"Canada are a strong side that will provide a physical challenge for us on Friday."
The Wallaroos will play at Suncorp Stadium for just the second time in history with the match to be played as a doubleheader alongside the Reds-Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific fixture.
The Wallaroos remain in contention to win the series with the final placings to be determined following the Test match between New Zealand and USA in Auckland.
WALLAROOS TEAM FOR CANADA TEST
1. Martha Fua (#223 - Blacktown Scorpions) – 2 caps
2. Katalina Amosa (#218 - Southern Districts) – 3 caps
3. Bridie O’Gorman (#180 - Sydney University) – 29 caps
4. Kaitlan Leaney (#179 - CSU Marlins) – 27 caps
5. Michaela Leonard (#168 - Tuggeranong Vikings) – 35 caps
6. Siokapesi Palu (c) (#194 - Rockdale Rangers) – 19 caps
7. Ashley Marsters (#117 - Boroondara) – 37 caps
8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra (#200 - Orange Emus) – 14 caps
9. Layne Morgan (#188 - Merewether Carlton) – 32 caps
10. Faitala Moleka (#199 - Blacktown Scorpions) – 19 caps
11. Desiree Miller (#204 - Eastern Suburbs) – 15 caps
12. Charlotte Caslick (#220 - Wests Bulldogs) – 3 caps
13. Georgina Friedrichs (#178 - Wests Bulldogs) – 31 caps
14. Biola Dawa (#211 – Wagga Reddies) – 3 caps
15. Caitlyn Halse (#210 - Camden Rams) – 8 caps
Reserves
16. Adiana Talakai (#182 – Sydney University) – 16 caps
17. Bree-Anna Browne (#193 – Brothers Rugby) – 11 caps
18. Asoiva (Eva) Karpani (#171 - Southern Suburbs) – 34 caps
19. Ashley Fernandez (#221 - Uni-North Owls) – 1 cap
20. Emily Chancellor (#158 - Sydney University) – 26 caps
21. Ruby Anderson (#224 - Avoca Beach Rugby) – 1 cap
22. Tia Hinds (#222 – Randwick) – 2 caps
23. Trilleen Pomare (#155 - Wanneroo) – 36 caps
Players unavailable for selection
- Piper Duck (shoulder)
- Brianna Hoy (knee)
- Lydia Kavoa (calf)
- Atasi Lafai (knee)
- Leilani Nathan (knee)
- Maya Stewart (knee)
- Bienne Terita (hamstring)
- Samantha Wood (back)
WALLAROOS 2025 TEST SCHEDULE
- Saturday, May 3: Wallaroos 43 defeated Fijiana 7 at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
- Saturday, May 10: Wallaroos 12 defeated by Black Ferns 38 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
- Saturday, May 17: Wallaroos 27 defeated USA 19 at GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Friday, May 23: Wallaroos v Canada, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane - 4:55pm AEST (Pacific Four Series)
- Saturday, July 12: Black Ferns v Wallaroos, Sky Stadium, Wellington - 2:30pm AEST (O'Reilly Cup)
- Saturday, July 26: Wallaroos v Wales, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane - 2:00pm AEST
- Friday, August 1: Wallaroos v Wales, North Sydney Oval - 7:00pm AEST
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025
- Saturday, August 23: Wallaroos v Samoa, Salford Community Stadium, Manchester - 9:00pm AEST
- Sunday, August 31: Wallaroos v USA at York Community Stadium, York - 4:30am AEST
- Sunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove - 2:00am AEST
